John Mateer’s thumb injury changed the shape of Oklahoma’s 2025 season, but it didn’t erase what he showed before it happened - and it’s a big reason Josh Pate is ready to buy back in on both the quarterback and the Sooners.
Oklahoma still reached the College Football Playoff in 2025 even with an offense that finished 113th in rushing and 79th in scoring. That was better than 2024, but it still fell short of what’s expected in Norman.
The biggest reason the year never fully took off was Mateer’s thumb injury at the end of the Auburn game. The Sooners tried to minimize its effect before the Texas game and through the back half of the season, but the impact was obvious.
Before the injury, Mateer was rolling. In the first four games of the season, he averaged 351.3 total yards and 2.8 total touchdowns per game. Those numbers helped turn him into the Heisman frontrunner after standout performances against Michigan and Auburn.
Pate said he’s done hesitating.
"... did you see this guy at the Manning Passing Academy the other day? Did you see the vibes emanating off of him?
I did. And so I would like to announce here and now, June 30th, 2026, I'm not exploring a John Mateer Heisman ticket again.
I'm not dabbling with the thought. I am all in on John Mateer.
And therefore, I must be all in on Oklahoma this year, which must come as a shock to people who have labeled me a Sooner hater as of late. That's not true."
Mateer is now fully recovered from midseason surgery and had a strong spring, which has him expected to pick up where he left off before the injury. That’s the standard Oklahoma is hoping for, especially with road trips to Ann Arbor, Athens, and Dallas for the Red River Showdown packed into the first five games of 2026.
The spotlight has been on Mateer, but the offense as a whole still has work to do. Oklahoma needs a dependable running game to keep defenses honest and create more room for Mateer to operate.
Even so, he remains the engine that drives everything. If he stays healthy for all of 2026, the Sooners should be in the mix when it matters most.
In Other News...
Oklahoma Just Got A National Nod That Will Fire Up Sooners Fans
Pro Football Focus gave Oklahoma a preseason boost this week by slotting defensive tackle David Stone at No. 31 on its college football top 50 for 2026, a notable national nod for a Sooners defense that figures to lean on him again. Stone was the lone Oklahoma player to make the list, and the recognition fits the way he flashed in 2025 as a disruptive interior force.
PFF pointed to Stones pressure production and his ability to impact the run game, two traits that should keep him central to Oklahomas plans as the new season approaches. With other key pieces like John Mateer, Isaiah Sategna and Michael Fasusi expected to shape the offense, the Sooners have reasons to feel good about their roster balance, but Stones rise gives the defense a headline name and a reminder that the front can still set the tone. [Read more 🡒]
Oklahomas Receiver Depth Looks Better But One Doubt Still Lingers
Oklahomas receiver room is in a better place heading into 2026, at least on paper. Isaiah Sategna is back, and the Sooners have added transfer help in Parker Livingstone and Trell Harris, giving the top end of the group a look that should be more dependable than it was a year ago. For a team that wants more consistency on the outside, that kind of upgrade matters, especially with a clear trio emerging as the foundation of the passing game.
The lingering question is what comes after those three. Brent Venables has talked up several reserve wideouts during spring practice, but Oklahoma has not leaned heavily on its receiver depth in the past, and it is still unclear how much trust the staff will place in the lower part of the chart once the season starts. If the Sooners are going to get where they want to go, they may need more than just the headline names to hold up when the games start to pile up. [Read more 🡒]
Oklahoma Faces A 2026 Quarterback Gauntlet Fans Wont Ignore
The Manning Passing Academy always offers a glimpse at the next wave of quarterbacks, but for Oklahoma, this years version came with a little extra relevance. Four of the 11 passers singled out from the event are already on the Sooners 2026 schedule, which means the conversation quickly shifts from summer buzz to a real look at the kind of arms Brent Venables defense will have to chase around next fall.
Arch Manning sits near the top of that group, while LaNorris Sellers checks in at No. 7 and Bryce Underwood brings the sort of ceiling that keeps evaluators talking. Underwood was the No. 1 recruit in the 2025 class, and the appeal is obvious if he keeps climbing toward that level. Oklahoma also has to account for John Mateer, whose offseason transformation drew plenty of attention, adding another layer to a schedule that already looks loaded with quarterback talent. [Read more 🡒]